Glen Tilt to Glen Fernate Drove Road

This is a 24 km (14.9 mi) point-to-point walk from the A924 east of Straloch to the main Glen Tilt track, about 300 m northeast of the Falls of Tarf. The falls are nearby, not the route endpoint. It crosses open, remote ground, with a long climb toward Fealar before descending west to Glen Tilt. Allow 8–10 hours with stops; that is a planning estimate because no published walking time was found. The ends are far apart, so sort out transport before setting off.

Start at the Glenfernate Estate access on the A924, about 0.5 km east of Straloch. The route passes Glenfernate Lodge and heads north up Gleann Fearnach for 7 km to Daldhu. From there, continue generally north for another 12 km on the track to Fealar Lodge. The long climb opens onto higher, treeless hills; the walk is mainly about covering ground through the glen and over the high country.

At Fealar Lodge, leave the track for a path west toward Glen Tilt. You must cross the Allt Garbh Buidhe to reach the main Glen Tilt track. The burn is usually manageable, but can be dangerous in spate; do not try to cross high water. The route ends about 300 m northeast of the Falls of Tarf, rather than at the waterfall itself.

This drove road carried cattle to the Tryst at Kirkmichael. In the mid-1700s, Kirkmichael’s annual fair was among Scotland’s principal cattle markets and could last several days. The route already appeared on Roy’s Military Survey of 1747–55, a reminder that this high crossing was an established line long before modern estate tracks.

The named start is an estate access on the A924, but no public car park is documented. This is a through-walk, not a circuit; arrange a pickup or another return plan, and do not assume roadside parking is permitted. The route is listed for pedestrians, but current estate access arrangements are not confirmed. Check access notices before going. Dog rules and on-route water or facilities were not established, so verify those and bring what you need for a full day.